City centre shops we have lost since the coronavirus pandemic began
TODAY marks one year to the day since the first Covid-19 lockdown began, and non-essential shops were told to close for the first time on March 23, 2020.
They were back open for a few months from June, until the Government told stores across the country to temporarily shut again when the second nationwide lockdown was enforced in November.
After reopening for the Christmas shopping period, non-essential stores have been unable to trade again for the last three months amid the third lockdown, unless they are offering click-and-collect or takeaway services.
Non-essential retailers across Derby are expected to welcome customers back into their stores from April 12 when the current lockdown restrictions are set to be eased.
But while many retailers will once again emerge from a period of enforced closure, the economic impact of the lockdowns has meant some city centre stores have announced permanent closures over the past 12 months.
A number of big-name brands have been among those announcing store closures, including Debenhams, which is to close all of its stores, including its branch that spans over three floors of the Derbion shopping centre.
Other notable city centre store closures include Argos in London Road, Greggs in St Peter’s Street and Thorntons at the Derbion.
Here is a round-up of some of the shops that Derby city centre has lost since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic:
Thorntons, Derbion
The Derbyshire-based chocolate maker, which has a factory in Somercotes, issued a statement on its website last week saying it had taken the “difficult decision” to go into full consultation to start the permanent closure of shops.
The company has since confirmed that its branch at the Derbion will not be reopening when Covid-19 restrictions are eased following the third lockdown.
A spokeswoman for Thorntons said: “I can confirm that as the Derbion store is a Thorntons-owned store it will not reopen.”
Adam Tamsett, general manager at Derbion, said: “We’re sorry to hear that Thorntons will be closing all of its stores nationally, and we are engaging with them about the Derbion store.”
However, a number of Thorntons franchise shops across the county, including those in Allestree, Mickleover, Allenton and Swadlincote, will be continuing to trade.
Debenhams, Derbion
Back in January, it was confirmed that Derby’s Debenhams will close for good as the chain’s new owners announced plans to shut all of its stores.
The company’s brand and website have been bought by online fashion retailer Boohoo in a £55 million deal.
However, this deal did not transfer ownership of the brand’s stores, meaning liquidators will continue closing the retailer’s sites once they are allowed to open again when Covid-19 lockdown restrictions are lifted.
Debenhams plans to reopen “as many stores as possible” to clear remaining stock when restrictions are eased on April 12.
It is currently unclear whether the Derbion branch will be among those which reopen for a short period of stock clearance, with no updates on specific stores yet available. A spokesman for Debenhams said: “The plan remains to reopen as many stores as possible once lockdown ends to complete the stock clearance (anticipated to take 4-6 weeks).”
Greggs,St Peter’s Street
Bosses at bakery giant Greggs confirmed one of its four branches in Derby city centre would not reopen following the first coronavirus lockdown. The outlet in St Peter’s Street has closed down permanently. The chain still has three city centre stores, based in East Street, Corn Market and inside the Derbion.
Birds Bakery, Iron Gate
The Birds Bakery branch in
Iron Gate did not reopen following the first coronavirus lockdown.
Following the Iron Gate store closure, there are two Birds shops left in the city centre, in Albert Street, opposite Derby
Market Hall, and the Derbion branch, which was extended last year.
Monsoon at the Derbion
Fashion chain Monsoon closed down its store at the city shopping centre last year. It did not reopen following the first coronavirus lockdown.
The branch was named as one of 35 Monsoon shops set to close after the hit from coronavirus threw its
turnaround plan off course.
Office, Derbion
Footwear retailer Office shut its shop on Level 2 of the city shopping centre for good. It did not reopen following the first coronavirus lockdown. Confirming the closure of Office and Monsoon, a spokeswoman for Intu Derby, as it was called at the time, said: “We can confirm that Monsoon and Office have decided to close their stores at Intu Derby. “These closures were commercial decisions made by the brands and we wish all of the in-store staff well.”
Scenta Flora, Sadler Gate
In October, the long-standing Derby florist announced it would be closing down after more than two decades in business.
Owner Shirley McCoy, who has been a renowned florist in the city for 22 years, said the time had come for her to retire. The store closed its doors for the final time on Saturday, October 31.
Hotter Shoes, Derbion
Hotter Shoes on Level 1 of the city shopping centre closed down permanently, after not reopening following the first coronavirus lockdown.
The Lancashire-based footwear chain’s nearest store to Derby is now based at Dobbies Garden Centre, in Barlborough, near Chesterfield.
Argos, London Road
The company’s branch in London Road had its doors closed since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, in March 2020.
In January, the retailer, which is owned by Sainsbury’s, confirmed to Derbyshire Live that the branch has closed for good and will not be
reopening.
Burton and Dorothy Perkins, Victoria Street
The two fashion retailers closed their Derby city centre stores for good following their sale to Boohoo last month.
The sale marked the final section of Arcadia’s empire to be sold, after the company went into administration at the start of December 2020.